Vascular access hands-on training for young nephrologists: The fellows’ experience of the N-PATH project REVAC module

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease is a major public health problem, as population studies record a prevalence of 7.2% in individuals over 30 years and is expected to increase in the future. Many of them will end up undergoing hemodialysis treatment, and vascular access is not only an essential requirement for the technique, but also a determining factor in their prognosis; for all these reasons, every nephrologist should have both theoretical and practical knowledge of vascular access; however, the practical training is generally uneven and dependent on the hospital in which you train. It is within this context that the N-PATH (Nephrology Partnership for Advancing Technology in Healthcare) program was born with the objective of training 40 young European nephrologists in theoretical and practical aspects of Interventional Nephrology. To fulfill its mission, the 2-year program is composed of four modules of 6 months each including theoretical courses and hands-on training: Renal Expert in Molecular Pathology (REMAP), Renal Expert in Vascular Access (REVAC), Renal Expert in Medical Ultrasound (REMUS), and Renal Expert in Peritoneal Dialysis (REPED). By bringing together young nephrologists from all over Europe, the goal is also to create a strong network and promote Nephrology career at the European level. This publication highlights the experience of fellows who attended the REVAC hands-on training in Milan, focused on simulation and virtual reality for vascular access, and its impact on their nephrology training.